Riding a bike is a healthy and fun way to get around Western New York in the summer. To help children and teens enjoy this activity in a safe manner, The Kiwanis Pediatric Trauma Center at Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo held a Bicycle/Head Injury Prevention Education event at Ken-Ton Family Support Center. On July 8, 2014, 350 children and teenagers serviced by the center received free bicycle helmets and fittings, and witnessed an educational demonstration about the dangers of head injuries.

The young people in attendance learned just how easily the brain can be injured when not wearing a helmet. Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Child Life Educator, Sue Mirabella, used a jello mold to simulate the human brain and show the serious effects of even minor head trauma. Two experts from Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Kathryn Bass, MD, Medical Director of Trauma and Renée Reynolds, MD, Pediatric Neurosurgeon, spoke and answered questions about common head injuries and how to prevent them.

In addition, Jenna Mamon, PA, Pediatric Surgery, Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo talked with families about sunburn prevention and supplied them with bottles of sunscreen, an especially necessary tool as we enter the heart of summer.

Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo has been designated by New York State as a Regional Level I Pediatric Trauma Center. Care is provided to the eight county regions of Western New York and to Southern Ontario. The Emergency Department at Women & Children's Hospital treats over 40,000 patients annually and provides 24-hour immediate care for children and adolescents in acute or crisis situations. Traumatic and accidental injuries account for nearly 12,000 of these Emergency Room visits.